NP Juvenile Charged with 1st Degree Sexual Assault

Posted 12 months ago

By Scott Carlson

A North Platte juvenile has been charged with sexual assault after he allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old female.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, on January 16, 2014, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services received information that an 11-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a male juvenile who was 14-years-old, in early summer 2012.

Brown said that, while the juveniles aren’t related, they resided in the same home.

The victim was interviewed at the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, where she confirmed that the boy had sexually assaulted her at the residence.

On February 3, an investigator with the North Platte Police Department met with the suspect, now 16.

Following questioning, the investigator found probable cause to charge the boy with 1st degree sexual assault.

The State of Nebraska defines 1st degree sexual assault as:

(1) Any person who subjects another person to sexual penetration (a) without the consent of the victim, (b) who knew or should have known that the victim was mentally or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of his or her conduct, or (c) when the actor is nineteen years of age or older and the victim is at least twelve but less than sixteen years of age is guilty of sexual assault in the first degree.

(2) Sexual assault in the first degree is a Class II felony. The sentencing judge shall consider whether the actor caused serious personal injury to the victim in reaching a decision on the sentence.

(3) Any person who is found guilty of sexual assault in the first degree for a second time when the first conviction was pursuant to this section or any other state or federal law with essentially the same elements as this section shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of twenty-five years in prison.

Brown said the juvenile was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, where he was processed and released.

The Post is choosing not the name the suspect pending the filing of formal charges by the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office.